I have heard ABS is actually better than PVC if you you want to use "tubular material" for the main sliding surface. I guess PVC gets brittle easier in the sun I am not very educated on the strength properties of plastic so I am not stating it as a fact... Also why do you want to bend it?? Perhaps you are trying to make a curved pool type of coping?? Maybe it is a rainbow slider you are looking to build?? Gravity pretty much helps the ends suspend (creating a natural bend) and to increase that bend you could always screw an "EYE hook" in the bottom of it and put tension on the ends with an anchored rope or something. I am not sure what your application is though, let me know.

You can bend PVC with a tiger torch and a large vice. Its a little tricky to heat it to the malleable stage without burning a hole in it. Gradual bends in several spots about 15 deg each are your best bet...

For all you Slider experts I was wondering how wide you built yours. I put together a slider that is 40 feet long but I only used 3" PVC side by side to make it about 6 1/2 -7 inches wide. It's do able, but challenging. What is typically a good width.

I don't know about other places, but around where i live, PVC is impossible to get in different sizes. ABS however is all over the place. I also know that it is very flexible, and EXTREMELY pressure resistant, whereas PVC will shatter. The PVC sliders i've seen all have wood reinforcements inside, i would imagine ABS wouldn't need any since its so much thicker. and it's also very flexible. I vote ABS all the way. (althought its black and not as visible).

as far as the "slider" vs "grind-rail" debate.. would you rather SLIDE your board or grind it into oblivion?? nuf said.